The death of John and Cathie McCarthy’s Dalmatian Ch. Ir. Ch. and Int. Ch. Truthful Tango at Kilndandy JW (Toby) brought and end to the career of one of the best known Dalmatians in the United Kingdom.

Bred in Coventry in 1995 by Martin Ford, the litter was the result of a chance meeting with Bob Wertheim who proposed Ch. and Am Ch. Washakie Dancing Brave as a sire to Martin’s bitch, Sweet Marjoram.

Truthful Tango at Kilndandy’s (Toby) first major success was being declared Best Puppy at Crufts in 1996 by judge Joan Curtis, who also awarded Dog CC to his sire Ch and Am Ch Dancing Brave and Bitch CC and BOB to Ch Washakie Indian Summer, a remarkable year for that kennel.

Toby won his first CC at the age of 15 months and gained his title when he was three. In a 10 year show career he won a total of 27 CCs, many with BOB and Group placings, winning his first Group under Albert Wight at Border Union. In addition to being well liked by breed specialists he was also a favourite with all rounders, winning CC’s under Feffie Somerfield, Harry Jordan, Keith Nathan, Clare Coxall, Ellis Hulme, Hans Lehtinen and Peter Bailey.

He also succeeded in the Pedigree Champion Stakes being a finalist in 2000 and in the Pedigree Veteran Stakes where he made the finals in 2002 and 2003. He retired from the ring in 2005. His last show was in the Veteran Stakes when aged ten and a half he won second place under Bill Browne - Cole at Leeds Ch. Show.

In Ireland he quickly became an Irish Champion and won groups at the St Patrick’s Day show and at the Naven Utility Breeds Ch. Show.

When Ireland started running FCI shows, he proceeded to win the required CACIB’s and gained his FCI International Title, being the first Dalmatian exhibited from the UK to hold the International Title.

With the arrival of pet passports he also became the first Dalmatian to travel from the UK to compete in Europe at the Amsterdam World Winner’s Show 2002 under judge Lillian De Ridder, competing against dogs from more than 20 countries. In the Open Dog Class with an entry of 30 he was placed 4th.

Ch Printzagem’s Diva

Diva was out of the first litter bred by Tom and Jan Highmoor in 1993. She was by Rikarlo Murphy Himself ex Chilite Black Satin, foundation bitch of the Printzagem’s kennel.

A stunning blue, Diva was one of the first I saw and admired in the breed. She kept her colour and her superb movement into old age. Two years ago she appeared at the German Spitz Club Championship show in a parade of Golden Oldies and showed young and old how to move as she swept the ring with her lifetime handler Jan.

At Crufts, the first year the breed got CCs, she won the RCC. She went on to win a total of five CCs. Her first show was East of England where she won BP in breed under Les Crawley. In 1998, again at the East of England she was awarded 4th in the Utility Group under Judge Joe Kirk and then in 2000 made history for the breed by becoming the very first German Spitz to win the Utility Group. This was again East of England, breed judge Bob Gregory, Group Judge Ziggy Wilburg.

From her first litter one of her daughters sired by Atroya Barley Sugar was the first Klein to go to Australia. This was Aus. Ch Printzagem’s Just The Ticket. A repeat mating produced Ch Printzagem’s Vidi.

Diva was a once in a lifetime special girl to both Jan and Tom. She will be truly missed.